CTV News Montreal

CTV.ca News Staff

In a bid to bring the "joie de vivre" back to Montreal, a local restaurant has taken prices off the menu and is inviting patrons to "pay what they want."

The promotion at the Taverne Crescent may seem like a risky move at a time when many restaurants are seeing their numbers decline as customers tighten their belts and eat out less.

But co-owner George Pappas said his goal is to counteract the grim financial news and help customers to once again enjoy their culinary experience.

He told CTV's Canada AM there's no small print, and customers are free to pay as little, or as much, as they want.

"There's absolutely no catch. We put the sign up last week and our customers and my friends called me up and said 'What's the catch? Is there a minimum? Is there a maximum? Do you have to buy a drink, buy a beer?' ... And there's no catch, and we're not used to that."

The promotion has been in place for two days at the restaurant described on its website as a bar and restaurant with a New York flair.

"Some give more, some give less, and it's fun. The idea is fun. We want people to come with a smile and leave with a bigger smile," he said. 

But Pappas admitted not all customers are immediately comfortable with the unusual billing concept, and some people get nervous when they receive a bill with no dollar figure.

"There was a table yesterday, or the day before, they weren't smiling. So I went up and said 'Girls, it's not an exam, just take the pen and write the amount you want to pay,' and they walked out smiling, and that's the idea -- bringing back the joie de vivre."

On Tuesday, lunch customers were offered a "pay what you want" menu that included an appetizer, plus either braised beef, salmon or tagliatelle Bolognese, and coffee or tea.

The idea was borrowed from a London restaurant that offers a similar incentive to get customers through the door, amid tough economic times.

The current recession has all facets of the service industry desperate to attract customers -- in Montreal and across Canada. But Pappas said his main goal is simply to make people happy.

The only condition attached to the promotion, he said, is that customers leave with a smile on their face.

"It's been a long winter and every time you watch the news or open the newspaper it's bad news or negative news. What we're trying to do is tell people to get people out of their offices, leave the sandwich at home, and come out and have a great lunch with your friends, with your co-workers, laugh and go back to your offices and enjoy the rest of your day."

Comments are now closed for this story

Brenda
what an interesting concept. hope it works well for you.
We have a buffet restuarant here in our city that if you don't finish what you put on your plate (no doggy bags allowed) you are charged double the buffet price just for wasting food and this hasn't hurt the business here.
New and fun ideas are exciting and can really lift a persons spirit when they are feeling down.

Dave in New Brunswick
This is truely a nice thing to do, but, I wonder how many will frequent this establishment and pay nothing? Hats off to you Mr Pappas.

Mike in BC
Kudos to this man and his novel idea. I hope his faith in his customers is justified and he is able to continue to do what he obviously loves to do. An uplifting story and encouraging to all in this fickle world.

AndyL
I wish him all the best, I live close to Crescent St in Montreal and my girlfriend works for one the bars on that street. Business has been declining steadily. Hope this bring back customers to the area and hope for him that people aren't too cheap

Edwin from Toronto
All homeless people can now enjoy a decent meal in a restaurant.

Julius
I think this is a great concept. I would pay what I felt the food was worth...for example, if I ordered a bowl of mushroom soup, I'd probably be inclined to pay $1 or so. I also think that if restaurants charged less, or charged what their food was worth, they'd see more business. The problem now is that you have to budget a good $50-$100 for 2 people to eat out somewhere if you factor in things like appetizer, entrée, dessert and a drink. If 2 could dine for say, $30, more people would eat out. It's sad to go to a restaurant and see that a grilled cheese sandwich, for example, costs $4, when it costs about 30 cents to make it. If restaurants slashed prices, they'd see more business, trust me!

Matthew MacLean
This is so great!! I think I just restored my faith in the service buisness . It is certainly tough times and even if this promotion was temporary, it's a great chance for other local establishments to step up to the "plate".

From The East
To Dave in New Brunswick:

"This is truely a nice thing to do, but, I wonder how many will frequent this establishment and pay nothing? Hats off to you Mr Pappas."

There will be some that will pay nothing, but they will be the minority. Given the chance people will prove their honesty. In the end, you cannot pay enough for the advertising that this will/does generate, and it will more than compensate for those that think they have taken advantage of Mr Pappas generosity. Cudos to your thinking outside the box and allowing people to raise to the occasion and prove their honesty.

Maureen
I think this is a great idea that uplifts everyone! We all know average prices in restaurants - those that are able to pay more should - after all for you it's a win win situation - you were able to enjoy a fine meal and assist this owner to help all patrons enjoy a meal and smile. Bravo!

Robert Brise
A great Idea

Just last Sunday a youth org. at our church had a Sunday lunch, and the theme was just like that, pay as much as you can only or not at all if you can't.. Unfortunately My Family could not attend but I'll assure you that I will be contributing to their Lunch.
Mr Pappas I'm sure you and many attending will benefit from this experience and giving attitude!!

MRC in Ontario
Ah, the Quebecois still have thick European blood with an attitude to match. Wonderful!

Phil
This manager absolutely read my mind! I hope to see a lot more of this in the near future, It's extraordinary.

As for me taking advantage of this, If I happen to be in the area. But I understand it is not a case of who is taking advantage of who, mutual respect that is the key!

@ CTV Please I'm sure that everybody here would like to see an UPDATE on this story, how it worked out etc. Please we need ever bit of good news these days.

The bartender has a thought about the 40c sandwich
Please remember, it might cost you 40c to make a grilled cheese sandwich in your own kitchen, but for a restaurant meal you need to factor in the garnish on the plate, the plate itself, the table and tablecloth and chairs, the waiter, busboy, dishwasher, cook, night cleaner with their salaries and EI contributions, insurance costs, the foodstock (inventory of food and liquor for your selection), the cash register, the liquor license, and the venue, which means rent per square foot, permits, (you like an outdoor patio in the summer, don't you?) and taxes and taxes and taxes to keep that business alive. So your $4 grilled cheese is perhaps not so outrageously priced after all.

Stephen
Really???

People think this is a great idea? I thought it was one of the stupidest things I have ever heard of. Kind of like a car dealership saying, were taking off the price stickers off the windows, and you pay what you think is fair.

While most people may be honest, given the chance some will take advantage of this owner, and his bottom line will be hurt sooner rather than later, and the promotion will be dead.

If anything this stunt has given him and the business its 15 minutes of fame and tons of free advertising.

My 2 cents

Michael R
How is the tip handled in this establishment. The one bonus I can see is if the food was just okay but the service was great you can pay less on the bill and give the server the tip they deserve.

Rick in NB
Bravo Mr. Pappas. In a world of pidgeon holes, you have managed to climb outside of the box. I hope you have lots of profitible business.

Mickey from Regina
I have heard of this before in another establishment in Western Canada. If memory serves me correctly, that owner stated they brought in more money than if the prices had been printed on the menus. If I have a great meal, I would pay accordingly.

Janice Raschko
One World Spokane adopted this concept from the beginning and not only are people smiling, but they are also enjoying the community this provides and we're feeding people with nutritious organic food. Hats off to Pappas and his good karma. Thanks from Janice Raschko (Canadian living in US)
Spokane, Washington, USA

Given a chace most people will do the right thing
@ Stephen

I work in a bar (also in Montreal) that provides a free ride home service on weekends. I have been driving people home for 10 years (much longer than 15 minutes of fame). The service is totally free, but I can tell you that over 95% of the people tip for the service although they are not obligated. Also, I would say about 70% of the people tip more that what they would have paid for a taxi. Then of course there are a few people who think like you. And by the way, maybe if car dealers would let you pay what you think is fair for a new car, then maybe the automakers would not be asking the taxpayers to bail them out.

My 2 cents

Yvon in Quebec
I hope this new concept work well for M. Pappas. Unfortunately, most people don't know how much it cost to make good quality food. If you consider the cost of the salaries, electricity, heating, rent... . Personally, I would give what seem fair when you compare to other restaurants.

Marion in the Creek, On
I think this is a great promotional idea. Make it permanent!

How about this idea? The cash register is programmed to randomly spit out a "No Charge" bill. The customer orders from the regular menu, and is pleasantly surprised when the bill comes with a big fat zero! Like winning the lottery, but on a smaller scale!!

Stephen
@
Given a chace most people will do the right thing

I doubt it, this is a business owner creating a promotion/buzz to get his 15 minutes of fame and tons of free advertising.

Kudos to him if it works, but if it explodes in his lap, he has no one else to blame except himeslf.

Richard in Halifax
It's a great concept, one that has worked well for people in the music business who have dared to think outside the box (think Nine Inch Nails and Radiohead) of the traditional corporate model of releasing a record. Of course some people will pay as little as they can, others will choose to reward the business for their ingenuity and for the product. How many times have people had to pay $15-$20 for a meal that they felt wasn't up to par? Simply put, if the food is good, people will pay a fair value for it.